Scientists at the Ernest
Gallo Research
Center in Emeryville
think they've made a breakthrough in the understanding and treatment of alcoholism,
a breakthrough that they say may help to reduce the high odds of relapse facing
those in recovery from the disease.

Their research study involved a manipulation of the brain
protein glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and in
rats anyway, it showed an amazing ability to keep alcoholic rats off the sauce,
for good.

In an animal model study, the researchers gave a cohort of rats
alcohol at a level high enough to induce dependence, and then cut off the alcohol
supply. The rats were then split into two study groups. Half of the rats
received a manipulation that increased their levels of GDNF, and half the rats
didn't, and all the rats were then again given access to alcohol.

Amazingly, the rats that had the higher levels of GDNF were
far less interested in consuming alcohol, while the rats with the normal levels
of the protein quickly fell back into their hard drinking ways.

Higher levels of GDNF reduced the rats desire to drink
alcohol.

Significantly, when the rats were given sugar water solution
(a natural reward) both groups of rats consumed the solution at the same
intensity - and this, according to study leader Dorit Ron, is significant.

He explains that at the moment, there are certain drugs used
in the treatment against relapse for alcoholism. The problem with these drugs,
he says, is that although they can help to reduce cravings for alcohol, they
tend to also reduce cravings for other naturally pleasurable things in life,
"People lose desire for any pleasurable activities. They feel bad, they
feel blah, so they stop taking the drug."

The research results were published in today's edition of the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Fellow scientists
have already hailed this manipulation technique with a selective effect on
alcohol cravings as a major breakthrough. Friedbert Weiss, of the
Scripps Institute commented, "I think it's a landmark study. Chronic vulnerability
to relapse is really at the core of addiction."

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